How Simplicity and Self-Advocacy Can Transform Your Life

One Step at a Time

When people reflect on their lives near the end, one of the most common regrets they share is this: I didn’t spend enough time doing what I loved.
That truth hit me hard—and it’s what inspired me to start simplifying everything.

As a woman living with Multiple Sclerosis, I spent years trying to prove I was strong enough, productive enough, “normal” enough. I pushed through symptoms, buried my diagnosis, and smiled while secretly exhausted. But deep down, I knew there had to be a better way.

And it began with one simple idea: less can truly be more.

Why Simplicity Matters—Especially with MS

Simplicity is not about deprivation. It’s about making space—space for healing, space for breath, space for joy. It means clearing out the mental, physical, and emotional clutter that keeps us overwhelmed and disconnected from ourselves.

For me, that started in my home. I cleared out toxic cleaning products, synthetic fragrances, and anything that made me feel worse instead of better. From there, I started looking at my calendar, my habits, my relationships. I asked: Is this helping me heal—or holding me back?

And what I found was powerful: simplicity didn’t just reduce stress—it created clarity. It gave me the energy and peace I had been craving for years.

A Mountain. A Metaphor. A Mindset Shift.

One of the most transformational moments of my journey happened on a trail in Whitefish, Montana.

I had signed up for a group hike during a business retreat weekend. But when I landed, I discovered my suitcase—packed with all my essential gear—was still sitting in the Detroit airport, 1,900 miles away.

My hiking boots. Base layers. Gloves. Poles. All gone.

But instead of bowing out, I chose to speak up. My mentor and a fellow attendee stepped in, found me replacement gear, and supported me on the trail.

No, I didn’t make it to the top with the group. But I made it up.
I slipped in the mud. I tripped on tree roots. I had never done anything like it before. But I showed up—and I kept going.

That day became more than just a hike. It became a living metaphor: You don’t need to reach the top to transform. You just need to start.

The Healing Power of Saying No

Simplicity taught me to advocate for myself—to say no without guilt, to rest without apology, and to live from my values, not someone else’s expectations. And it’s a lesson I now share with other women navigating chronic illness:

• You don’t need all the answers to begin.

• You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment.

• You just need to take the next best step.

Your Journey Begins Now

Whether you’re managing MS, feeling overwhelmed, or simply craving more peace, your transformation starts with a decision.

Choose to simplify.
Choose to speak up.
Choose to climb—your way, at your pace.

One step at a time is still forward.

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